With COVID-19 wiping out the outdoor track and field season in the United States this summer opportunities to get into a race have been limited. At the Sound Running Track Meet held in San Juan Capistrano, California Sanford, Maine native Rachel Schneider made her 10,000-meter debut on the track. Schneider who has great range has Olympic standards in the 1500m (4:02.26) and 5000m (15:06.71) looked to hit the standard in the 10k two weeks ago.
Rachel used her strong kick to run a 66.24 final lap to secure the victory and an Olympic standard 31:09.79. Schneider who last ran in a track race over a year ago showed little rust as her time moved her to eighth-fastest American at the distance. This all despite having achilles issue this summer which interrupted her training.
With the 10k debut behind her, Schneider is the only American that has Olympic standards from 1500m-10,000m. She posted on her Instagram account, "Still processing my race, but really excited to have run away with the win, Olympic standard, and to be the 8th fastest on the American all-time list. Looking forward to getting back to work and capitalizing on whatever opportunities might come up!"
Also competing in the race was Emily Durgin of Standish who trains in Flagstaff, Arizona along with Schneider. Durgin hit a small personal best and more importantly ran 32:22.56 to dip under the US Olympic Trails qualifying standard of 32:24.